Valve cover joint seal assembly

Abstract

A valve cover assembly for an internal combustion engine has an integrally formed spark plug tube extending therethrough and into a cylinder head. The blind joint between the spark plug tube and the cylinder head surface against which it abuts is provided with a unique joint seal assembly wherein a flange surface generally parallel to the cylinder head surface is provided on the outer periphery of the tube and the tube is reversely tapered from the flange to the end thereof. An elastomeric sealing ring is mounted on and retained in place by the reverse taper below the flange and abuts against the cylinder head. The ring is thus retained on the tube during installation and removal of the valve cover from the cylinder head while growth of the ring due to the hot oil environment is accommodated by the radial extent of the flange surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A joint seal assembly for a blind compression joint formed between an end of a cylindrical structure associated with an engine valve cover and an abutment surface disposed within said valve cover on an engine cylinder head, said joint seal assembly comprising: a planar flange surface formed adjacent to and intersecting an outer periphery of the cylindrical structure, an outer peripheral edge of said flange surface being disposed parallel to said abutment surface a predetermined distance from said end of said structure;   said cylindrical structure having a reversely tapered end portion disposed between said flange surface and said structure end to provide a larger periphery at said end than the periphery thereof adjacent said flange surface; and   an annular seal ring disposed on said reversely tapered end portion, said seal ring having an uncompressed height greater than said predetermined distance, an outer perimeter less than an outer perimeter of said flange surface, and an inner perimeter less than said larger perimeter of said structure end.   
     
     
       2. The joint assembly of claim 1 wherein said planar flange surface extends at an acute angle downwardly outwardly from an inner peripheral edge thereof to said outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
       3. The joint assembly of claim 2 wherein said acute angle is about 8° from parallel to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       4. The joint assembly of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical structure is a tubular member. 
     
     
       5. The joint assembly of claim 4 wherein said tubular member is integrally formed in an engine valve cover and said abutment surface is an engine cylinder head. 
     
     
       6. The joint assembly of claim 5 wherein said tubular member has a flange disposed on the periphery thereof, said flange surface being disposed on said flange. 
     
     
       7. The joint assembly of claim 1 wherein said reversely tapered end portion of said cylindrical structure is disposed at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       8. The joint assembly of claim 7 wherein said acute angle is about 8°. 
     
     
       9. A valve cover for enclosing a portion of an internal combustion engine cylinder head, said cylinder head having an aperture surrounded by an abutment surface, said valve cover comprising: a main body portion; and   a tubular portion integrally formed with said main body portion and extending to a distal end disposed to abut against said cylinder head abutment surface, said tubular portion defining a passage through said valve cover disposed to align with said cylinder head aperture, said tubular portion having a flange surface formed thereon to face said abutment surface, said flange surface intersecting a radially outer periphery of said tubular portion and being disposed a predetermined distance from said distal end.   
     
     
       10. The valve cover of claim 9 and said tubular portion having a reversely tapered end portion disposed between said flange surface and said distal end to provide a larger perimeter at said end than the perimeter thereof adjacent said flange surface. 
     
     
       11. The valve cover of claim 10 and an annular compressible sealing ring disposed on said tubular portion between said flange surface and said distal end, said compressible sealing ring extending a predetermined distance past said distal end prior to installation of said valve cover on said cylinder head, the inner perimeter of said sealing ring being smaller than said larger perimeter of said distal end of said tubular portion. 
     
     
       12. The valve cover of claim 10 wherein said reversely tapered end portion of said tubular portion is disposed at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       13. The valve cover of claim 12 wherein said acute angle is about 8°. 
     
     
       14. The valve cover of claim 9 wherein said flange surface is disposed parallel to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       15. The valve cover of claim 9 wherein said flange surface extends at an angle downwardly and outwardly relative to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       16. The valve cover of claim 15 wherein said angle is about 8° from parallel to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       17. The valve cover of claim 9 and an annular compressible sealing ring disposed on said tubular portion between said flange surface and said distal end, said compressible sealing ring extending a predetermined distance past said distal end prior to installation of said valve cover on said cylinder head. 
     
     
       18. A valve cover assembly for enclosing a portion of an internal combustion engine cylinder head, said cylinder head having an aperture surrounded by an abutment surface, said valve cover comprising: a main body portion; and   a tubular portion integrally formed with said main body portion and extending to a distal end disposed to abut against said cylinder head abutment surface, said tubular portion defining a passage through said valve cover disposed to align with said cylinder head aperture, said tubular portion having a flange surface formed thereon to face said abutment surface, said flange surface intersecting a radially outer periphery disposed a predetermined distance from said distal end, a periphery of said tubular portion between said flange surface and said distal end being reversely tapered to provide a larger diameter at said distal end than a diameter thereof at said flange surface; and an annular compressible sealing ring disposed on said tapered tubular portion between said flange surface and said distal end, an inner diameter of said sealing ring being smaller than said larger diameter of said distal end of said tubular portion to retain said sealing ring on said tubular portion.   
     
     
       19. The valve cover assembly of claim 18 wherein said flange surface is disposed parallel to said abutment surface. 
     
     
       20. The valve cover assembly of claim 18 wherein said flange surface extends at an angle downwardly and outwardly relative to said abutment surface.